Experimental Functional Analysis Flashcards
Define experimental functional analysis
The use of specific methods to test a hypothesis about the variables that cause/maintain behaviour
How is EFA different to informant assessment and descriptive assessment?
EFA involves manipulation of antecedents/consequences to witness the effect on behaviour
We test how consequences affect behaviour by…
systematically manipulating the various reinforcers for behaviour
EFA is conducted in…
an analogue setting
Define analogue setting
Contrived - not in the natural environment
Situation in which brief social attention is given each time behaviour occurs
Contingent attention condition
What form does contingent attention usually take?
Mild social disapproval
If informant/descriptive assessments suggest tangible reinforcers maintain behaviour we test by
Present preferred tangible items contingent on problem behaviour
Situation in which person is asked to perform task, which is removed each time behaviour occurs
Demand (Contingent escape) condition
How long is the task generally removed during the demand condition?
About 30 seconds
If people don’t respond during demand condition…
enter into 3 step prompt procedure
Situation in which the person is left with no external sources of stimulation
Alone
The alone condition tests for…
sensory stimulation (automatic reinf’t)
Contingent attention condition:
Situation in which brief social attention is given each time behaviour occurs
Contingent escape (demand) condition:
Situation in which person is asked to perform task, which is removed each time behaviour occurs
Alone condition:
Situation in which the person is left with no external sources of stimulation
Control condition:
Situation in which the person has access to all non-contingent attention and tangibles and no demand is presented.
What is the problem with testing the alone condition?
Potentially VERY DANGEROUS to leave a person exhibiting some automatically reinforced behaviours alone!
What rate of responding would you expect during the control condition if something in the environment is maintaining the behaviour?
Low (if at all)
How are results recorded for EFAs?
Data is collected in each conditioning showing the freq of behaviour. Graphs are then made to show patterns of behaviour
How do we test which antecedents cause behaviour?
Using previous assessment results we manipulate the antecedents we think cause behaviour
Give four antecedents that could be tested
Presence/absence of person; task difficulty; time of day; type of activity
Give an advantage to using experimental analyses
Gives best information about behaviour due to experimental methods
Give a limitation to using experimental analyses
Resource constraints: time consuming and requires qualification
